Rotary Club Of Cambridge Trust Fund

Charity Number: 1018844

Annual Expenditure: £0.0M

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £33,579 (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (no public application process)
Decision Time: Determined at club meetings throughout the year
Grant Range: £500 - £12,000+
Geographic Focus: Cambridge area (local) and international projects
Charity Number: 1018844

Contact Details

Email: cambridgerotaryuk@gmail.com
Phone: 01223 467037
Website: http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=460
Address: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Overview

The Rotary Club of Cambridge Trust Fund (established 1992, charity 1018844) is the charitable trust of the Rotary Club of Cambridge, the longest-established Rotary Club in Cambridgeshire, which celebrated its Centenary in 2022. With an annual income of approximately £37,000 and expenditure of £33,579 (2024), the trust supports both local Cambridge charities and international development projects. The fund's charitable objective is “for the relief of the poor and needy or to or for such other charitable purpose institution society or object as the club shall in duly constituted meeting from time to time direct.” The club raises funds through various activities including their annual Christmas Carol Concert at Great St Mary's Church, fundraising events at West Road Concert Hall, and car parking facilities. The trust is managed by three trustees and supported by approximately five volunteers. Recent strategic focus has included children's mental health, African education, Ukrainian humanitarian support, and local social welfare organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Instead, grants are awarded through decisions made at club meetings based on causes that align with their charitable objectives. Recent funding indicates several areas of activity:

Local Charities: Individual grants typically ranging from £500 to £2,000+

Support distributed to Cambridge-area organizations addressing poverty, homelessness, health, and social welfare

International Development: Larger project grants of £4,000 - £12,000

Multi-year commitments to specific educational and healthcare projects in developing countries

Emergency Appeals: Variable amounts based on need

Special fundraising campaigns for humanitarian crises (e.g., £32,000+ raised for Ukraine)

Priority Areas

Based on recent funding patterns, the trust actively supports:

Children and Young People

Children's mental health services (£16,000 distributed among four local charities in 2024)
Young carers support programs
Youth development and leadership programs (RYLA)

Education

African schools (£4,000 each to three schools in 2024, plus £12,000 from Christmas Concerts)
School coding competitions and educational programs
International educational infrastructure

Poverty and Social Welfare

Homelessness services (Cambridge Churches Homeless Project)
Support for people in need (Cambridge Aid - over £12,500 raised 2019-21)
Relief of poverty locally and internationally

Healthcare

Hospice care (Arthur Rank Hospice)
Maternity care in Uganda
Medical research (£6,000 for Antibiotic Research UK)

International Development

Community infrastructure (community centre in The Gambia)
Small business loans in developing nations (Lendwithcare)
Disaster relief (Shelterbox - £2,000 in 2023-24)

Youth Support

Mental health services for young people (Centre 33)
Holiday opportunities for disadvantaged young people (two-day breaks at National Trust sites in Norfolk)
Children in Need (£1,366 raised)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the trust's focus and Rotary International principles suggest they likely do not fund:

Political organizations or campaigns
Activities that conflict with Rotary values
Organizations that discriminate
Activities outside their stated charitable objectives

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Graeme Sutherland Minto - Chair (appointed July 2016)

Also serves as trustee of The Minto Charitable Trust

Clare Waterhouse - Trustee (appointed July 2021)

Anthony Nix - Trustee (appointed April 2017)

The trust operates with no paid staff, and no trustees receive remuneration or benefits from the charity. The trust is supported by approximately five volunteers and operates in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Cambridge's membership.

Club Structure

Funding decisions are made “in duly constituted meeting” by club members, meaning the broader Rotary Club membership plays a role in directing charitable expenditure through their regular meetings.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Unlike the Rotary Club of Cambridge South Trust Fund (charity 1018512), which accepts open applications from charities, the Rotary Club of Cambridge Trust Fund makes grants based on decisions made by club members at their meetings.

Grants are awarded through internal club processes where members:

Identify charitable causes and organizations
Propose beneficiaries at club meetings
Vote on funding allocations
Direct the trustees to make distributions

The trust primarily supports causes that club members bring to the table, organizations they have relationships with, or projects that align with Rotary International's areas of focus.

Getting on Their Radar

While there is no formal application process, organizations seeking support might consider:

Attend Club Events: The Rotary Club of Cambridge hosts public fundraising events such as their Christmas Carol Concert at Great St Mary's Church. Attending these events provides opportunities to meet club members and learn about their current interests.

Contact the Club Directly: Organizations can reach out via email (cambridgerotaryuk@gmail.com) or phone (01223 467037) to introduce their work. While this won't guarantee funding, it may lead to opportunities for club members to learn about your organization.

Rotary Connections: If your organization has board members, volunteers, or supporters who are Rotarians in any club, they may be able to make introductions or advocate for your cause within the Cambridge club.

Align with Rotary International Priorities: The club tends to support causes that align with Rotary International's areas of focus: peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development, and supporting the environment.

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the Rotary year at club meetings. The club meets regularly (typically Tuesdays), and funding decisions can be made at any meeting where the club has a quorum and the proposal is brought forward.

Major fundraising events occur annually:

Christmas Carol Concert (December) - proceeds distributed to designated charities
West Road Concert Hall fundraising event (annual) - supports local charities

There is no published timeline for when organizations might receive funds, as this depends entirely on when and how their cause comes to the club's attention and the club's meeting schedule.

Success Rates

Not applicable - there is no application process with success metrics.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations do not formally apply.

Application Success Factors

Since there is no formal application process, the key to receiving support from this trust is relationship-based:

Club Member Advocacy: Organizations that receive funding typically have a connection to one or more club members who champion their cause. Having a Rotary member aware of and enthusiastic about your work is the primary success factor.

Alignment with Rotary Values: The club's funding pattern shows strong preference for causes that align with Rotary International's mission. Projects that address the “Four Way Test” (Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?) are most likely to resonate.

Demonstrated Impact: Recent beneficiaries include organizations and projects where impact can be clearly seen - specific schools receiving specific amounts, measurable support for defined beneficiary groups. The club appears to favor concrete projects over general operating support.

Local Connection or International Reach: The club supports both local Cambridge organizations and international development projects. Local organizations benefit from proximity and club members' direct knowledge of their work. International projects benefit from Rotary's global network and the club's tradition of supporting education and healthcare in developing countries.

Multi-Year Engagement: Several of the club's relationships with beneficiaries appear to be ongoing rather than one-off. For example, continued support for Cambridge Aid and sustained focus on African schools suggests the club values building lasting partnerships.

Transparency and Accountability: Given the club's volunteer-driven nature and fiduciary responsibility, organizations that can clearly demonstrate how funds are used and what outcomes are achieved are likely to be favored.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process exists - this trust awards grants based on internal club decisions, not external applications
Relationship-building is essential - funding opportunities arise through club member awareness and advocacy
Dual focus: local and international - the club supports both Cambridge-area charities and overseas development projects, particularly in education and healthcare
Rotary alignment matters - causes that fit Rotary International's values and focus areas have the best chance of resonance
Evidence of impact is valued - the club's recent funding shows preference for specific, measurable projects over general support
Consider alternative Rotary routes - if your organization specifically needs grant funding with a public application process, the Rotary Club of Cambridge South Trust Fund (charity 1018512) may be more appropriate, as they offer open applications with annual deadlines
Engagement opportunities - attending the club's public fundraising events (Christmas concerts, etc.) provides informal networking opportunities